ABSTRACT:The animal welfare industry is an appealing cause for donors of all ages. But how do you make sure your donors commit to your organization and keep you top of mind with all the worthy causes they can choose to support? The emotional connection is an integral piece to ensure the donor relationship; it can be tricky to deliver on this when your donors are of all age groups.

This presentation will review the importance of a comprehensive stewardship plan and why it is also important to focus on young philanthropists. This session will help to spark ideas on how to create the connection and deliver the best possible results when resources can be challenging.

KEY LEARNINGS:

What is stewardship and why it is so important? We will focus on the fundamentals of stewardship, why it is so important to have a plan and the tools you need to build your plan.

How do you make your plan unique? We will deep dive into scenarios and share some unique examples of how organizations ensured success by creating a unique experience

Bring all the pieces together. Let’s take what we learned today and build an action plan.

BIOS:

Jaime Caza is the Director, Advancement & Social Enterprise at the Edmonton Humane Society (EHS). Previous to EHS, she was the Director of Development with Ronald McDonald House Charities, where she was responsible for implementing strategies that led to three consecutive years of record-breaking revenue results. With 10 years’ experience in the corporate sector, Jaime brings a deep knowledge of how to attract and build corporate relationships.

Aimee Winegarden is an Advancement Officer at the Edmonton Humane Society. She spent almost 20 years leading teams and driving results in the for-profit sector before discovering a passion for fundraising and all things charitable.

ABSTRACT:What does your donor stewardship look like? Is the same for an 11-year-old who donates their birthday money compared to an elderly couple who says your organization is in their will? How about someone who brings in food and blankets, compared to someone buys a ticket to your annual gala? Impactful donor stewardship looks, and means, different things to different people. For 90 minutes, Calgary and Edmonton Humane Society will be teaming up – yes you heard right – teaming up to ensure you take home the framework for a comprehensive, cost effective and meaningful donor stewardship plan that will build long-term and loyal donors for your organization.

KEY LEARNINGS:

Why donor stewardship is so important for any organization.

What the fundamentals are for an all-inclusive stewardship plan to reach all your donor segments.

What are some examples of best practices in donor stewardship, and some examples of where organizations have made mistakes.

BIOS:

Jaime Caza is the Director, Advancement & Social Enterprise at the Edmonton Humane Society (EHS). Previous to EHS, she was the Director of Development with Ronald McDonald House Charities, where she was responsible for implementing strategies that led to three consecutive years of record-breaking revenue results. With 10 years’ experience in the corporate sector, Jaime brings a deep knowledge of how to attract and build corporate relationships.

Rae Fehr has been building relationships with donors for more than 18 years. He started with six years as a Senior Development Officer at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology before moving to STARS Air Ambulance for 10 years, where he gained experience and knowledge in all areas of fundraising. Now with just over two years at the Calgary Humane Society, Rae strives to learn how he can lead the organization on how to build exceptional donor loyalty.

Leah Johnson spent her formative years as an avid martial artist, earning the distinction of black belt in 2013. The discipline and contacts she secured during that portion of her life pushed her to open her first business as the owner of a retail martial art supply store on Calgary’s busy 17th Avenue. Her love for connecting people to their passion helped drive the business and the lasting memories she has today. Leah now spends her personal time volunteering for various charities within Calgary but is most fulfilled by time with her family, especially her time with her rescue pup, Finnigan.

Aimee Winegarden is an Advancement Officer at the Edmonton Humane Society. She spent almost 20 years leading teams and driving results in the for-profit sector before discovering a passion for fundraising and all things charitable.

ABSTRACT:There are three important things we can do for our pets’ health and well-being: get them spayed/neutered, seeing a vet regularly for preventative care and getting our new friends microchipped for safe return home if they get lost.

The Hamilton/Burlington SPCA, local veterinarians, the OVMA, Royal Canin and Cat Healthy collaborated to ensure forever homes last forever. The "Teaming up for Cats" project in Fall 2015 helped educate new pet parents about follow-up care post adoption and the role of a veterinarian throughout a cat’s life. All cat adopters were encouraged to choose a vet, and then the cat’s medical history and a copy of the completed adoption checklist was sent to the vet prior to the first visit.

The legacy of this project has transformed adoption practices at the shelter. The Cat Healthy Adoption Checklist™ is a fully integrated feature in the adoption process. As important, a majority of adopters without a vet are now choosing a veterinary practice at point of adoption or within a week of adoption.

KEY LEARNINGS:

Acquire insight into teaching tools for adoption staff and volunteers.

Learn how to practically and effectively have open conversations about choosing a vet.

Learn how to engage your veterinarian community by participating in the “Teaming up for Cats” campaign.

BIO:Marion Emo is President and CEO of the Hamilton-Burlington SPCA, a registered animal welfare charity having served the community now for 131 years and counting. Marion is a transplanted Montrealer. Her educational background is social work and urban planning and, for 20 years, she worked in the Ontario health sector on system design and the organization of health services for optimal health and wellness for people and communities. She discovered that these imperatives are not much different in the animal world. The HBSPCA supports pet owners to be the pet parents they want to be; strives to keep pets healthy and safe in their loving homes; advances a positive animal human bond, and, is modernizing its once “state of the art” shelter, which is only 22 years old. Marion served on the advisory group to the national cat overpopulation survey and report (2017) led by the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.

With Marion’s leadership and commitment to collaboration, the HBSPCA continues to be an innovator and early adopter. The shelter was a pilot site for the “shelter to vet” program, linking each new pet parent and their Cat Healthy Adoption Checklist™, with a community veterinarian for follow up and life-long care. The HBSPCA renewed its commitment to the innovative D-Bronx program, wherein 4 youth in custodial care are each paired with a shelter dog for 4 weeks for mutually rewarding benefits. The youth care for and train the dogs, ready them for adoption and discover new insights about themselves.Marion’s social change interests include livable environments, living wage and knowledge transfer. While hardly a gardener, Marion does experiment with native grasses in her backyard.